Right? They play Riker being coerced into sex for laughs. It's the worst bit of the episode and if any other character were the target it would be very obvious why.
Yes it was a jarring point in an otherwise great episode. But I still think it was still a Riker approach to the problem. Worf would never accepted the proposal and (gently) knocked out Lanel and then rushed the single guard at the door.
I’m not sure it’s coersion per se. While he was aprehensive at first, it was more like “okay, I can’t really go down on this alien right now or my cover will be blown”.
There’s a difference between “not really into it, sorry” and “I don’t think it’s a good time right now” (and being asured otherwise)
He was pressured into sex tho, which is by definition coercion. Thats why I went on to state that he wasn’t enthusiastically consenting too, to be clear that its definition is the line I’m using for coercion.
Just to be clear, if someone says no and you have sex, that is always rape regardless, even if they would’ve said yes at another time.
“First Contact” (the episode, not the movie) is a nice little TNG gem which is often overlooked on the “best of” lists. There’s lots of talking and diplomacy, so TNG at its best. It’s also mostly shown from the perspective of the aliens, so that’s a nice change for once. It’s one of my favorite episodes.
I agree that this was a great episode. The relationship between the leader and his backward aide was done beautifully and it was really poignant how the aide got his way by proving he’s a jackass.
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